Copper nanoparticles and nanocomposite for catalytic applications

Abstract

Catalysts play important role in industrial chemistry, accounting for majority of chemical reactions. Due to increasing demand for catalysts, novel, cheap, stable materials are required. Single material cannot meet all the requirements, therefore multicomponent catalysts are being thoroughly investigated. Due to its abundance, cheap price, unique chemical and physical properties copper based catalysts were developed in this work. Activated carbon supported nanocomposites attract attention due to functionality, low-price and simple synthetic method. Such nanocomposites are used as catalysts, adsorbents, electrodes and in other areas. Carbon support provides high surface area, protects metal nanoparticles and adsorbs various chemicals. So far, carbon based nanocomposites are synthesized by impregnation methods. In this study, we first synthesize copper nanoparticles protected by capping agents, later we incorporate them into porous carbon by means of impregnation method. Then we test both materials for electrocatalytic reduction of $CO_2$. Next, in contrast to wet impregnation method, we developed alternative way to synthesize porous carbon supported metal nanoparticles by carbonizing copper nanoparticle and polymer mixtures in a tubular furnace under inert atmosphere. As synthesized samples were tested in oxidative self-coupling of amines into imine, intermediate molecule of important Strecker reaction.